### 23893 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 78 / Tuesday, April 23, 2013 / Notices

regulatory or other non-tariff barriers) to the effectiveness of emerging market’s food and rural business systems previously identified by an EMP project that are to be implemented by the applicant, etc. ;

(m) Project objectives; (n) Performance measures: Benchmarks for quantifying progress in meeting the objectives;

(o) Rationale: Explanation of the underlying reasons for the project proposal and its approach, the anticipated benefits, and any additional pertinent analysis;

(p) Explanation as to what specifically could not be accomplished without Federal funding assistance and why the participating organization(s) would be unlikely to carry out the project without such assistance;

(q) Timeline(s) for implementation of activity, including start and end dates;

(r) Information on whether similar activities are or have previously been
funded with USDA resources in the target country or countries ( e.g., under MAP and/or Cooperator programs);

(s) Detailed line item activity budget:

• Cost items should be allocated separately to each participating organization; and

• Expense items constituting a proposed activity’s overall budget ( e.g., salaries, travel expenses, consultant fees, administrative costs, etc.), with a line item cost for each, should be listed, clearly indicating:

(1) Which items are to be covered by EMP funding;

(2) Which by the participating U.S. organization(s); and

(3) Which by foreign third parties (if applicable).

Cost items for individual consultant fees should show calculation of daily rate and number of days. Cost items for travel expenses should show number of trips, destinations, cost, and objective for each trip; and

(t) Qualifications of applicant(s)
should be included as an attachment.

3. Funding Restrictions: Certain types of expenses are not eligible for reimbursement by the program, and there are limits on other categories of expenses, such as indirect overhead charges, travel expenses, and consulting
fees. CCC will also not reimburse unreasonable expenditures or expenditures made prior to approval of a proposal. Full details of the funding
restrictions are available in the EMP regulations.

4. Submission Dates and Times: EMP proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis during the fiscal year as long as EMP funding is available as set forth
below: • Proposals received by, but not later than, 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 28, 2013, will be considered for funding with other proposals received by that date;

• Proposals not approved for funding during the review period will be reconsidered for funding after the review period only if the applicant specifically requests such reconsideration in writing, and only if funding remains available;

• Proposals received after 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 28, 2013,
will be considered in the order received for funding only if funding remains
available.

5. Other Submission Requirements: All Internet-based applications must be properly submitted by 5 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, May 28, 2013, in order to be considered for funding; late
submissions received after the deadline will be considered only if funding remains available. All applications submitted by email must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 28,

2013, at podadmin@fas.usda.gov in
order to receive the same consideration.

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria: Key criteria used in judging proposals include:

• The objective of the activities is to develop, maintain, or expand markets for U.S. agricultural exports by improving the effectiveness of the food and rural business systems in emerging markets;

• Appropriateness of the activities for the targeted market(s) and the extent to which the project identifies market barriers (e.g., a fundamental deficiency in the emerging market’s food and rural business systems, and/or a recent change in those systems);

• Potential of the project to expand
U.S. market share and increase U.S. exports or sales;

• Quality of the project’s performance measures, and the degree to which they relate to the objectives, deliverables, and proposed approach and activities;

• Justification for Federal funding;

• Overall cost of the project and the amount of funding provided by the applicant and any partners; and

• Evidence that the organization has the knowledge, expertise, ability, and resources to successfully implement the project, including timeliness and quality of reporting on past EMP activities. Please see 7 CFR part 1486 for
additional evaluation criteria.

2. Review and Selection Process: All applications undergo a multi-phase review within FAS, by appropriate FAS field offices, and, as needed, by the private sector Advisory Committee on Emerging Markets to determine the qualifications, quality, appropriateness of projects, and reasonableness of project budgets.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices: FAS will notify each applicant in writing of the final disposition of the submitted application. FAS will send an approval letter and project agreement to each approved applicant. The approval letter and agreement will specify the terms and conditions applicable to the project, including the levels of EMP funding and cost-share contribution requirements.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: Interested parties should review the EMP regulations, which are available at the following URL address:http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/emmarkets/em-markets.asp.

3. Reporting. Quarterly progress reports for all programs one year or longer in duration are required. Projects of less than one year generally require a mid-term progress report. Final performance reports are due 90 days after completion of each project. Content requirements for both types of reports are contained in the Project Agreement. Final financial reports are also due 90 days after completion of each project as attachments to the final reports. Please see 7 CFR part 1486 for additional reporting requirements.

VII. Agency Contact(s)

For additional information and assistance, contact the Program Operations Division, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Courier address: Room 6512, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250, or by phone: (202) 720–4327,

or by fax: (202) 720–9361, or by email: podadmin@fas.usda.gov

.

Signed at Washington, DC, on 28 day of
March 2013.

Suzanne E. Heinen, Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service and Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.

[FR Doc. 2013–09460 Filed 4–22–13; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3410–10–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**Commodity Credit Corporation**

**Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting Applications for the Market Access**  **Program**

Announcement Type: New. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.601.


### 23894 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 78 / Tuesday, April 23, 2013 / Notices

**SUMMARY :**  The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2014 Market Access Program (MAP). The intended
effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible applicants for fiscal year 2014 and to set out criteria
for the award of funds under the program in October 2013. The MAP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

The funding authority for MAP expires at the end of fiscal year 2013. This notice is being published at this time to allow awards to be made early in fiscal year 2014, provided that program funding is reauthorized prior to that time. In the event this program is not reauthorized, or is substantially modified, FAS will publish a notice in
the Federal Register rescinding this Notice of Funds Availability.

**DATES :**  All applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 28, 2013. Applications
received after this date will not be
considered.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Entities wishing to apply for funding assistance should contact the Program Operations Division, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service by courier address: Room 6512, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250, or by phone: (202) 720–4327,

or by fax: (202) 720–9361, or by email: podadmin@fas.usda.gov. Information is
also available on the FAS Web site at http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/

map.asp

.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 
I. Funding Opportunity Description

Authority: The MAP is authorized under Section 203 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978, as amended. MAP regulations appear at 7 CFR part 1485.

Purpose: The MAP is designed to create, expand, and maintain foreign markets for U.S. agriculturalcommodities and products through costshare assistance. Financial assistance
under the MAP will be made available on a competitive basis, and applications will be reviewed against the evaluation
criteria contained herein and in the MAP regulations. All U.S. agricultural commodities, except tobacco, are eligible for consideration.

The FAS allocates funds in a manner that effectively supports the strategic decision-making initiatives of the
Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993. In deciding whether a proposed project will contribute to the effective creation, expansion, or maintenance of foreign markets, the FAS considers whether the applicant provides a clear, long-term agricultural trade strategy and a program effectiveness time line against which results can be measured at specific intervals using quantifiable product or country goals. The FAS also considers the extent to which a proposed project targets markets with the greatest growth potential. These factors are part of the FAS resource allocation strategy to fund applicants who can demonstrate performance and address the objectives
of the GPRA.

II. Award Information

Under the MAP, the CCC enters into agreements with eligible Participants to
share the cost of certain overseas marketing and promotion activities. MAP Participants may receive assistance for generic or brand promotion activities. For generic activities, funding priority is given to organizations that have the broadest possible producer representation of the commodity being promoted and that are nationwide in membership and scope. Only non-profit U.S. agricultural trade organizations, nonprofit state regional trade groups (SRTGs), U.S. agricultural cooperatives, and State government agencies can participate directly in the brand program. The MAP generally operates on a reimbursement basis.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants: To participate in the MAP, an applicant must be a nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organization, a nonprofit SRTG, a U.S. agricultural cooperative, or a State government agency. A small-sized U.S. commercial entity may participate through a MAP Participant.

2. Cost Sharing: To participate in the MAP, an applicant must agree to contribute resources to its proposed promotional activities. The MAP is intended to supplement, not supplant, the efforts of the U.S. private sector. In the case of generic promotion, the contribution must be at least 10 percent of the value of resources provided by CCC for such generic promotion. In the case of brand promotion, the contribution must be at least 50 percent
of the total cost of such brand promotion.

The degree of commitment of an applicant to the promotional strategies contained in its application, as represented by the agreed cost-share contributions specified therein, is considered by the FAS when determining which applications will be approved for funding. Cost-share may be
actual cash invested or in-kind contributions, such as professional staff time spent on design and execution of activities. The MAP regulations, in section 1485.16, provide detailed discussion of eligible and ineligible
cost-share contributions.

3. Other: Applications should include a justification for funding assistance from the program—an explanation as to what specifically could not be accomplished without federal funding assistance, and why participating organization(s) are unlikely to carry out the project without such assistance.

IV. Application and Submission
Information

1. Address to Request Application Package: Organizations are encouraged to submit their MAP applications to the FAS through the Unified Export Strategy (UES) application Internet Web
site. The UES allows interested applicants to submit a single consolidated and strategically coordinated proposal that incorporates requests for funding and recommendations for virtually all of the FAS marketing programs, financial assistance programs, and market access programs. The suggested UES format encourages applicants to examine the constraints or barriers to trade that they face, identify activities that would help overcome such impediments, consider the entire pool of complementary marketing tools and program resources, and establish realistic export goals.Applicants planning to use the Internetbased system must contact the FAS/ Program Operations Division to obtain
Web site access information. The Internet-based application may be found at the following URL address: https:// www.fas.usda.gov/ues/webapp/

.

The FAS highly recommends applying via the Internet-based application, as this format virtually eliminates paperwork and expedites the FAS processing and review cycle. However, applicants also have the option of submitting an electronic version of their application to FAS at podadmin@fas.usda.gov

.

2. Content and Form of Application
Submission: To be considered for the MAP, an applicant must submit to the FAS information required by the MAP regulations in section 1485.13. In addition, in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s policy (68 FR 38402 (June 27, 2003)) regarding the need to identify entities that are receiving government awards, all applicants must submit a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. An applicant may request a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS number request line at 1–866–705–5711.


### 23895 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 78 / Tuesday, April 23, 2013 / Notices

In addition, in accordance with 2 CFR Part 25, each entity that applies to MAP and does not qualify for an exemption
under 2 CFR 25.110 must:

(i) Be registered in the CCR prior to submitting an application or plan;

(ii) Maintain an active CCR registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by CCC; and

(iii) Provide its DUNS number in each application or plan it submits to CCC.

Similarly, in accordance with 2 CFR Part 170, each entity that applies to MAP and does not qualify for an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b) must ensure it has the necessary processes and systems in place to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of 2
CFR Part 170 should it receive MAP funding.

Incomplete applications and applications that do not otherwise
conform to this announcement will not be accepted for review.

The FAS administers various other agricultural export assistance programs including the Foreign Market Development Cooperator (Cooperator) program, the Emerging Markets Program, the Quality Samples Program,
and the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops program. Any organization that is not interested in applying for the MAP, but would like to request assistance through one of the other programs mentioned should contact the Program Operations

Division.

3. Submission Dates and Times: All applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 28, 2013. All MAP applicants, regardless of the method of submitting an application, must also submit by the application deadline, an original signed certification statement as specified in 7 CFR 1485.13(a)(2)(i)(E) to the Program Operations Division, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 6512, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250. Applications or
certifications received after this date
will not be considered.

4. Funding Restrictions: Certain types of expenses are not eligible for reimbursement by the program, and there are limits on other categories of expenses. CCC also will not reimburse unreasonable expenditures or expenditures made prior to approval.
Full details are available in the MAP regulations in section 1485.17.

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria and Review Process: Following is a description of the FAS process for reviewing applications and the criteria for allocating available MAP
funds.

(1) Phase 1—Sufficiency Review and
FAS Divisional Review

Applications received by the closing date will be reviewed by the FAS to determine the eligibility of the applicants and the completeness of the applications. These requirements appear
in sections 1485.12 and 1485.13 of the MAP regulations. Applications that meet the requirements then will be further evaluated by the appropriate Commodity Branch office of the FAS/ Cooperator Programs Division. The Commodity Branch will review each application against the criteria listed in section 1485.14(b) and (c) of the MAP regulations as well as in this Notice. The purpose of this review is to identify meritorious proposals and to recommend an appropriate funding level for each application based upon
these criteria.

(2) Phase 2—Competitive Review

Meritorious applications then will be passed on to the Office of the Deputy Administrator, Office of Trade Programs, for the purpose of allocating available funds among the applicants. Applicants will compete for funds on the basis of the following allocation criteria as applicable (the number in parentheses represents a percentage weight factor):

(a) Applicant’s Contribution Level (40)

• The applicant’s 4-year average share (2011–2014) of all contributions under the MAP (cash and goods and services provided by U.S. entities in support of overseas marketing and promotion activities) compared to;

• The applicant’s 4-year average share (2011–2014) of the funding level for all MAP Participants.

(b) Past Performance (30)

• The 3-year average share (2010– 2012) of the value of exports promoted by the applicant compared to;

• The applicant’s 2-year average share (2012–2013) of the funding level for all MAP Participants plus, for those groups participating in the Cooperator program, the 2-year average share (2012–2013) of all Cooperator program budgets.

(c) Projected Export Goals (15)

• The total dollar value of projected exports promoted by the applicant for 2014 compared to;

• The applicant’s requested funding
level. (d) Accuracy of Past Projections (15)

• Actual exports for 2012 as reported in the 2014 MAP application compared

to;

• Past projections of exports for 2012 as specified in the 2012 MAP application.

The Commodity Branches’ recommended funding levels for each applicant are converted to percentages
of the total MAP funds available and then multiplied by each weight factor as
described above to determine the
amount of funds allocated to each applicant.

2. Anticipated Announcement Date: Announcements of funding decisions for the MAP are anticipated during
October 2013.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices: The FAS will notify each applicant in writing of the final disposition of its application. The FAS will send an approval letter and program agreement to each approved applicant. The approval letter and program agreement will specify the terms and conditions applicable to the project, including the levels of MAP funding and cost-share contribution requirements.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: Interested parties should review the MAP regulations, which are available at the following URL address: http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/

map.asp . Hard copies may be obtained by contacting the Program Operations

Division.

3. Reporting: The FAS requires various reports and evaluations from MAP Participants. Reporting requirements are detailed in the MAP regulations in section 1485.22 and

1485.23.

VII. Agency Contact(s)

For additional information and assistance, contact the Program Operations Division, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Courier address: Room 6512, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250, or by phone: (202) 720–4327,

or by fax: (202) 720–9361, or by email: podadmin@fas.usda.gov

.

Signed at Washington, DC, on the 28 of
March 2013.

Suzanne E. Heinen, Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.

[FR Doc. 2013–09447 Filed 4–22–13; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3410–10–P**